Russia’s sports minister has said the controversy surrounding the law prohibiting gay propaganda toward children was “invented” by the media – and promised that no athletes or visitors at the Sochi Olympics would suffer any infringements of their rights.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference on the final day of
the World Athletics Championships, Vitaly Mutko said that “gay
propaganda” law did not mean than people are being persecuted
in Russia because of their sexual orientation.

“You’ve been in Moscow for 10 days,” Mutko said to a
journalist who asked him about the law. “Do you have examples
of anybody having problems because of this law? I haven’t heard
of such cases. I think the problem is somewhat invented.”

Mutko insisted that visitors and athletes at the Winter Sochi
Olympics next February would have their rights and freedoms
respected.

Russian citizens who do not abide by the law could be
fined up to 5,000 rubles ($150), while foreigners could be
fined the same amount, held in jail for 15 days and deported.
Officials who violate the law have to pay up to 50,000 rubles
($ 1,500) while companies have to pay fines of up to 500,000
rubles ($15,000).

He also accused the Western media of overplaying the anti-gay
issue, while saying that Russia wanted to protect its children
from the propaganda of “drug addiction, alcohol abuse and
non-traditional sexual orientation.”

Media coverage of the Athletics Championships, which closed
Sunday in Moscow, has been overshadowed in the West by comments
over Russia’s “gay propaganda law.”

Swedish high jumper Emma Green-Tregaro protested
the law by showing up for the competition with her fingernails
painted in rainbow colors to support gay rights. She eventually
had to repaint her nails red after being told her gesture
contradicted Championships regulations.

Russia’s Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbaeva came under
fire for having tried to justify Russia’s right to having laws
different from elsewhere. Some athletes eventually
branded her “homophobic”. Isinbaeva later said her remarks had
been misunderstood.

The legislation, enacted in Russia on June 30, introduces fines
for propagandizing non-traditional sexual relations to minors,
including in the media, on the internet and via viral
adverts.

Critics of the law say that it prohibits gay rights rallies, as
it leaves the loose legal interpretation open to prosecute anyone
voicing support for LGBT rights.

However, Russian lawmakers suppose it is not about punishing
people for being homosexual, but rather it intends to keep minors
from being influenced by non-traditional sexual relationship
propaganda.